Journal articles, testimony from disability group prove medical aid in dying is no threat to vulnerable populations

(BOSTON - September 21, 2017) -- In response to a legislative briefing held today at noon by opponents of the End of Life Options Act (H.1194/S.1225), bill supporters highlighted the safeguards in the legislation designed to protect vulnerable populations. The Joint Public Health Committee will hold a hearing on the legislation this Tuesday, September 26.

The bill would authorize medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option. It gives mentally capable, terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live the option to request, obtain and self-ingest medication to die peacefully in their sleep if their suffering becomes unbearable.

“This legislation contains a number of safeguards to protect terminally ill patients based on 40 years of combined state experience with medical aid in dying,” said Marie Manis, Massachusetts Campaign Manager for Compassion & Choices. “In the six states (Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, California and Colorado) that have authorized this option, there has never been a single case of abuse or coercion.”

According to a 2014 Purple Strategies Poll, 70 percent of Massachusetts voters support medical aid in dying as an option for terminally ill adults, including 64 percent of Catholics and 75 percent of people living with disabilities.

“I know that people like me won’t be forced to use medical aid in dying because that just isn’t how the law works and not what it’s for,” said Michael Martignetti, a Lexington resident who has been diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia, a life-shortening, progressive neuromuscular disease. “The law specifies that a person can’t qualify for medical aid in dying simply because they have a disability. Not everyone seems to understand this critical requirement.”

“Rates of assisted dying in Oregon...showed no evidence of heightened risk for vulnerable populations, including: “the elderly, women, the uninsured...people with low educational status, the poor, the physically disabled or chronically ill, minors, people with psychiatric illnesses including depression, or racial or ethnic minorities, compared with background populations.”

“It is important people understand what this law does - it simply gives a terminally ill person options at the end of his or her life.” said Rebekah Gewirtz, Executive Director of the Massachusetts chapter of theNational Association of Social Workers. “As a society, we should treat those who are terminally ill in a dignified, humane, and supportive way by honoring their wishes and supporting their decision making – not by forcing them to suffer against their will.”

The End of Life Options Act was introduced in January by Rep. Louis Kafka (D-8th Norfolk district), and Sen. Barbara L’Italien (D-2nd Essex & Middlesex district). If enacted into law, it would make Massachusetts the eighth jurisdiction in the nation to authorize medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option. Oregon, where medical aid in dying has been authorized for two decades since 1997, has been joined since then by Washington, Montana, Vermont, California, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.

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Compassion & Choices is the nation’s oldest, largest and most active nonprofit organization committed to improving care and expanding options at the end of life. More information is available at: www.compassionandchoices.org

National Association of Social Workers - MA Chapter Testifies In Support Of Raising the Minimum Wage

The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-MA) will testify in support of raising the minimum wage in Massachusetts during The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development hearing on September 19, 2017, touting the health and anti-poverty benefits of the legislation. NASW-MA is a member of Raise Up Massachusetts, a grassroots coalition leading the fight for a $15 per hour minimum wage in the Commonwealth.

The current minimum wage in Massachusetts is $11 per hour, amounting to only $22,880 a year. These earnings are not enough to cover the cost of groceries, housing, and other basic needs; they are not enough to support a family in Massachusetts. The proposed legislation (H.2365/S.1004) would raise the state’s minimum wage by $1 per year over four years until it is $15 per hour.

NASW-MA’s Executive Director Rebekah Gewirtz states: “Raising the minimum wage is not just an economic issue; it is a public health issue impacting all of us. When wages don’t keep pace and families and individuals fall into poverty, there are significant consequences for mental and physical health. Raising the minimum wage is an important step to breaking the cyclical nature of poverty and giving families in every corner of the Commonwealth a fair chance at a decent life. We urge the legislature to act.”

Research suggests that there are significant mental and physical health benefits when increasing the minimum wage. In 2016 the Boston Public Health Commission conducted a Health Impact Assessment focused on income and health and found that if the minimum wage in Boston was raised to $17 per hour, Boston would see significant and measurable declines in rates of diabetes, persistent sadness, persistent anxiety, and food insecurity and hunger.

As a profession, social workers are committed to serving clients and communities, many of whom are the most vulnerable members of society. NASW-MA believes that Massachusetts is ready to address income inequality head-on by raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour and following suit with states like California, New York, Washington, and Arizona who are already taking concrete steps to raise the minimum wage.

Yesterday's decision to end DACA will turn young Dreamers' lives upside down. As Barack Obama said, "These Dreamers are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper."

Ending DACA is unjust and as our US Senator Ed Markey lamented, "just plain evil." This decision impacts 800,000 individuals, approximately 7,900 of whom are living, working, and studying in Massachusetts. Even some of our social work colleaguesare personally affected by this decision (see image to the right).

NASW-MA will be participating in protests and actions in the coming days and weeks. Watch our Facebookand Twitter pages for updates on actions you can take with us.

We urge you to stay vigilant and to join us as we push Congress to defend DACA and preserve this critically important program in our communities and our nation.

Urge your state Representatives and Senators to pass The Safe Communities Act to protect Dreamers locally in MA. Look up your local legislators here.

Learn More

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - A program that protects successful applicants from deportation, legally allowing them to live and work in the U.S. for two years. These individuals pay taxes, contribute to social security and medicare/medicaid, and are critical drivers of our economy.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) - A person may be granted TPS if their country is experiencing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions. While in the U.S., these individuals may not be removed from the U.S. and may be eligible for legal employment.

The Dream Act - The 2017 version of this bill was introduced by both Democrats and Republicans to better protect DACA and TPS recipients and provide a path to citizenship.

Can we cure racism in our nation and our Commonwealth? I believe the answer lies with us. Barack Obama said before he left office that the three most important words in our constitution are the first three: We the People. Social work's history is rich with examples of advocacy for justice, tolerance, and an end to cruelty and oppression. Indeed, social workers have always been leaders in the fight for civil rights, a single payer health care system, and equal and equitable access to education and housing. We know our victories happen at the local and state level, and it is these victories that can set the precedent for the rest of the nation.

Now is the time for us to organize and advocate, and ensure our Commonwealth exemplifies through policy the values we hold dear as a profession and as a nation.

Into the fall and in the year ahead we are looking to work together to set the stage for the rest of the nation and the world to show that we can make positive change and we can fight intolerance - and win. If you want to get involved with any of our campaigns or committees please be in touch with us. You can contact me at rgewirtz.naswma@socialworkers.org.

This weekend there will be a counter-protest and resistance rally on the Boston Common. Many social workers will certainly attend. Please let us know if you'd like to carry the NASW banner.

In peace and solidarity,

Rebekah and the team at NASW-MA Chapter

P.S. You can read National NASW's full statement on Charlottesvillehere.

Several NASW-MA priority bills are being "heard" by legislative committees on Monday and Tuesday. What makes the most impact? Your stories and experiences as social workers.

As we struggle with the news from Washington, the biggest impact we can have is to advocate for justice and compassion here in Massachusetts.

We'd love to work with you to craft testimony, have you join us at the State House, and lobby legislators for bills that will make a difference to social workers and the people we serve.

Read below and be sure to contact us to learn more, to get involved, and to get support so you can be an effective activist - you're not in this alone. NASW-MA is your activist arm!

Monday, May 15th - Judiciary Committee Hearing starts at 1pm, but best time to attend is 3-5pm. Bill to Protect Rape Survivors Rights which would give women the right to end custody and visitation for the father when a child is conceived through rape.

The National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter announced today the appointment of Rebekah Gewirtz as the Chapter's next Executive Director. Rebekah served for more than eight years as the director of government relations and political action at NASW before leaving at the end of 2013 to become the executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association.

During her tenure at NASW, Rebekah was a leader in the campaign to raise the minimum wage, co-chair of the Campaign for our Communities working with the support of nearly 100 organizations for a state revenue package that would be adequate and fair, and she was a founding member of the Welfare Coalition fighting to secure and preserve state safety net programs for the most vulnerable. She led the Chapter's successful efforts to advance social work practice through policy, including legislation protecting social workers from frivolous lawsuits, legislation protecting social workers against restrictive covenants, legislation providing social workers with section 12 authority, and passage of social work safety in the workplace legislation. In addition, Rebekah led the Chapter's political action arm NASW MA PACE, working with members to endorse and support candidates throughout Massachusetts who share social work values and priorities.

Allison Scobie-Carroll, NASW-MA Chapter Board President said, "Rebekah's substantial contributions to the NASW MA Chapter to date, her extraordinary leadership across public and private-nonprofit realms, and her remarkable capacity to inspire others make her just the sort of leader that the NASW Massachusetts Chapter needs at this critical time. I am thrilled that our Chapter and its members have the good fortune to welcome Rebekah to the helm."

As the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) from 2014-2017, Rebekah has provided strategic vision for the organization, engaged in extensive fundraising, member and stakeholder recruitment and retention, and advancement of core public health policy priorities. In 2015, under Rebekah's leadership, MPHA was selected through a competitive process as a Social Innovator with the Social Innovation Forum.

Rebekah also served as Ward 6 Alderman (City Councilor) in the City of Somerville from 2005-2015. She was first elected in 2005 and was re-elected four times before leaving the Board of Aldermen at the end of her term in 2015. From 2011-2012, Rebekah was elected by her colleagues to serve as president of the board.

Rebekah has been recognized by her peers with several awards and honors. She was named Woman to Watch by the political youth group, Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century. Upon graduation from the McCormack Institute of Policy Studies at UMass Boston, she received the Outstanding Public Service Award. In November 2013, Rebekah was honored by the Greater Boston Labor Council with their Leadership Award. And most recently, in 2016, Rebekah received the Tina DeLellis Distinguished Service Award from the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

NASW is eagerly looking forward to Rebekah's leadership at the helm of our organization as we press forward an agenda of advancing our core values of social and economic justice and unimpeded access to services for all, and top notch advocacy and programming in support of the social work profession. Rebekah's first day will be Monday April 24, 2017.

Mirean Coleman, LICSW, CT Clinical Manager
December 2016

It has been brought to NASW’s attention that clinical social workers who are Medicare providers may have inappropriately received notice of a two percent negative payment adjustment in 2017 for not using 9 measures when reporting Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures in 2015.

As you may be aware, clinical social workers did not have 9 PQRS measures to report in 2015. NASW is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to address and Reconsider the negative payment adjustment where appropriate.

If you have been subjected to this negative payment adjustment due to lack of reporting 9 Measures, please send your name and National Provider Identification (NPI) number by December 19, 2016 to PQRSPenalty@naswdc.org.

Executive Director

National Association of Social Workers – Massachusetts Chapter

The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, with a membership of 7000, is seeking an Executive Director with demonstrated leadership and management skills. In addition, applicants should have a substantial knowledge of, and a strong commitment to, the social work profession and social work values, with an awareness of the diversity of social work practice. Applicants should also be able to engage, inspire, and mobilize the Association’s membership.

Position requires:

Senior leadership experience working with professional or non-profit organizations and their volunteer Boards

NASW-MA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination. Applicants from diverse communities are encouraged to apply.

]]>What's HappeningFri, 9 Dec 2016 16:28:29 GMTPACE Endorsee Election Resultshttp://www.naswma.org/news/320232/
http://www.naswma.org/news/320232/NASW-MA PACE (Political Action for Candidate Election) was busy this summer and fall with state representative and senator elections. More than 25 new candidates running for the first time were interviewed. A few of them were challenging incumbents - which always means a tough race in Massachusetts.
PACE ultimately endorsed 11 new candidates for state rep and 5 incumbents. On the senate side, 5 newcomers were endorsed and 5 incumbents. Some endorsements were for the primary elections, others for the general. All were Democrats. Last summer NASW staff and interns sent the PACE questionnaire and an invitation to apply for endorsement to all candidates who were not running unopposed, both Republican and Democrat. Just one Republican responded and she did not know a single social worker in the state who could offer a letter of reference. (To be considered for an endorsement interview, candidates return a questionnaire and recommendation letter from a social worker.)

PACE took some risks endorsing new candidates, a few who are social workers with tough match-ups. Four representative candidates and two senate candidates lost in the primary; another three representatives lost in the November 8th general election.

Who Won?

PACE is pleased to announce these new allies in the State House who will help support our social work bills and legislative priorities:

Of the newcomers, at least five are under 30 years old! The face of the State House is changing.

The disappointing news were the losses of two social workers; an African American candidate from Worcester whose opponent used blatantly racist propaganda in mailers against him; and a dynamo young woman from Saugus who was up against an incumbent millionaire. She came close though!

Members of NASW MA chapter joined hundreds of activists, elected officials and advocacy groups in front of the State House Nov. 21 to reaffirm their commitment to reject hatred and bigotry in all forms.

“Professional social workers are also social justice advocates,” said Carol Trust, Executive Director of NASW MA chapter. “We stand with our allies and our clients, many who are concerned with the recent rise in hate speech and violence in the county.”

The event was hosted by the Anti-Defamation League in conjunction with dozens of social justice, religious and human rights and immigrant rights groups. Many state and local leaders joined in support, including: Senate President Stan Rosenberg, Speaker Robert DeLeo, State Treasure Deborah Goldberg, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Attorney General Maura Healey.

“We are here to send a message, and to send it loud and clear,” Healey said. “We will not tolerate hate in Massachusetts!” Healey recently began a hotline for residents to report incidents of bias-motivated threats, harassment, and violence. Over 400 incidents were reported since this initiative was launched. Massachusetts residents can call 1-800-994-3228 if they feel threatened or if others are threatened. “In Massachusetts, we will protect people’s rights, fight discrimination and keep people safe,” Healey said.

The recent spike in reported violence and intimidation highlights the importance of social workers and the NASW, Trust said.
“Social workers across the commonwealth are reporting increased concern from clients who have extreme anxiety over an unknown future,” Trust said. “We must work to safeguard their rights on an individual and collective level. The NASW will always advocate for those serving others.”
NASW MA is looking for members to take an active role in social justice. To volunteer contact Matt McLaughlin at 617-227-9635.

]]>What's HappeningFri, 2 Dec 2016 14:21:38 GMTHIPAA Phishing Email Alerthttp://www.naswma.org/news/319906/
http://www.naswma.org/news/319906/Social work practitioners should be aware of a recent phishing scam. On November 28, 2016, the HHS Office for Civil Rights issued a listserv announcement warning covered entities and their business associates about a phishing email that disguises itself as an official communication from the Department. The phishing email is being circulated on mock HHS Departmental letterhead under the signature of OCR’s Director, Jocelyn Samuels.
The email prompts recipients to click a link regarding possible inclusion in the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Rules Audit Program, and directs individuals to a non-governmental website that is marketing a firm’s cybersecurity services. That firm is NOT associated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Office for Civil Rights.

OCR states that this phishing email originates from the email address OSOCRAudit@hhs-gov.us and directs individuals to a URL at http://www.hhs-gov.us. This is a subtle difference from the official email address for our HIPAA audit program, OSOCRAudit@hhs.gov, but such subtlety is typical in phishing scams.
Covered entities and business associates should alert their employees of this issue and take note that official communications regarding the HIPAA audit program are sent to selected auditees from the email address OSOCRAudit@hhs.gov. In the event that you or your organization has a question as to whether it has received an official communication from our agency regarding a HIPAA audit, please contact OCR via email at OSOCRAudit@hhs.gov.

]]>What's HappeningThu, 1 Dec 2016 16:14:31 GMTHIPAA Phishing Email Alerthttp://www.naswma.org/news/319901/
http://www.naswma.org/news/319901/Social work practitioners should be aware of a recent phishing scam. On November 28, 2016, the HHS Office for Civil Rights issued a listserv announcement warning covered entities and their business associates about a phishing email that disguises itself as an official communication from the Department. The phishing email is being circulated on mock HHS Departmental letterhead under the signature of OCR’s Director, Jocelyn Samuels.
The email prompts recipients to click a link regarding possible inclusion in the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Rules Audit Program, and directs individuals to a non-governmental website that is marketing a firm’s cybersecurity services. That firm is NOT associated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Office for Civil Rights.

OCR states that this phishing email originates from the email address OSOCRAudit@hhs-gov.us and directs individuals to a URL at http://www.hhs-gov.us. This is a subtle difference from the official email address for our HIPAA audit program, OSOCRAudit@hhs.gov, but such subtlety is typical in phishing scams.
Covered entities and business associates should alert their employees of this issue and take note that official communications regarding the HIPAA audit program are sent to selected auditees from the email address OSOCRAudit@hhs.gov. In the event that you or your organization has a question as to whether it has received an official communication from our agency regarding a HIPAA audit, please contact OCR via email at OSOCRAudit@hhs.gov.

The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), which identifies measures available to improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries by clinical social workers and other Medicare providers, will end on December 31, 2016.

PQRS 2016 payment reports will be made available in 2018 and a negative payment adjustment will be made at that time for those clinical social workers who did not meet the reporting requirements for PQRS 2016.

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) is a quality payment program replacing PQRS and is expected to begin in January 2017 for physicians and in January 2019 for clinical social workers.

NASW will provide additional information about this program after the final rule for the 2017 physician fee schedule is released in November 2016.

The MA State Board of Registration of Social Workers asked NASW to inform our members of the following:

There was a significant delay in the printing of licenses. There is a posting on The Board’s website that directs licensees to look up their licenses on line. This can be printed as an alternative to the physical license until it arrives.

Although the expiration date was changed to October 31st, the late fee for renewing after October 1st is still being assessed. The extension was to allow those to practice, who were caught up in the issues of the Board’s new system. It did not change the date the renewals were due to the Board’s office. The Licensing Board has been assessing the late fee since October 5th.

Changes to ICD-10 Mental Health Codes on the Way
By Megan Brooks - September 07, 2016

Key changes to diagnostic codes in the mental health chapter of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-10) will take effect October 1 and reflect the updated diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

"These include changes to align the terminology used in DSM-5 with that used in the mental health chapter of ICD-10. In response, the fiscal year 2017 version of ICD-10, which takes effect October 1, will include most of DSM-5's terminology," the American Psychiatric Association (APA) notes in a release.

The APA adds that in some cases, new codes have been added to ICD-10 to accommodate the new diagnoses that were added to the DSM-5.

"The new codes will allow more accurate diagnostic recording, improved communication among clinicians, and better means for collecting prevalence data," the APA said.

The chart below lists the original codes (valid only through September 30, 2016) and the new codes (effective October 1, 2016) for the disorders affected in alphabetical order to the disorders affected.

Disorder

Original Code

New Code - 10/1/16

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder

F50.8

F50.89

Binge-eating disorder

F50.8

F50.81

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder

F34.8

F34.81

Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder

L98.1

F42.4

Gender dysphoria in adolescents and adults

F64.1

F64.0

Hoarding disorder

F42

F42.3

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

F42

F42.2

Other specified depressive disorder

F32.8

F32.89

Other specified feeding or eating disorder

F50.8

F50.89

Other specified obsessive-compulsive/related disorder

F42

F42.8

Pica, in adults

F50.8

F50.89

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

N94.3

F32.81

Social (pragmatic) communication disorder

F80.89

F80.82

Unspecified obsessive-compulsive/related disorder

F42

F42.9

See the free DSM-5 Update, a free supplement to DSM-5, for these changes as noted page-by-page in DSM-5 and the DSM-5 Desk Reference, as well as prior updates to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, text, and prior ICD-10-CM coding updates necessary for compensation in mental health practice. Available at: http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org.

Recently, Roberta Russell, PhD, LICSW, member of NASW-MA and the Chapter’s HMO/MCO Commission, went with a group of private practice clinicians from Western Massachusetts to meet with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s (AG) staff.

Before providing you a brief synopsis of the meeting, based on Roberta’s and her colleague’s reports, you should know that the AG is very interested in learning more about the experiences of providers/clinicians and clients, with the State’s insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations . They are very interested in knowing specifics. Specific complaints, comments, and concerns should be sent to Stephen Vogel, Assistant Attorney General, at Stephen.vogel@state.ma.us.

The meeting with the AG’s staff was quite comprehensive, and lasted more than an hour.

The issues discussed included:

Concerns about closed or restricted panels and the negative impact on clients

The difficulty for providers to recoup legitimate, unpaid claims from the companies

Clients being dropped from their insurance plans or coverage changing without adequate notification

Providers leaving networks/panels due to low reimbursement rates and the time and revenue lost due to excessive call wait times and bureaucracy of the insurance companies

Parity concerns of “carve-outs”

Anti-trust concerns that forbid private practice social workers, and other clinicians, from discussing the reimbursement rates they receive from the insurance companies

Lack of available mental health providers in the Berkshires and the Cape and Islands.

The AG’s staff want to hear from NASW-MA members and other clinical providers regarding the following concerns:

Companies not paying money owed to the provider/clinician

Demands to fill out forms for authorization, credentialing, appeals, etc., when the information has been previously provided;

Requiring therapists to call and then being put on hold for excessively long periods (e.g. 10 minutes +);

Refusing to pay valid claims that are submitted past their arbitrary limits of 60 or 90 days, etc.

Documentation of income lost from denied claims that should have been paid

Mistakes and errors by the companies

Any violations of parity laws; for example, having to request authorizations for treatment, having treatment not authorized, denials of payment based on lack of medical necessity, and the quantity of paperwork required for doing these things

NASW-MA Chapter, on behalf of Roberta and her colleagues, want to encourage you to communicate with the AG’s office about insurance company practices such as those outlined above. We suggest your communications be professional, specific, and based on data or facts, not opinions or feelings. If we want to have a real impact, we need to approach our concerns as professionally and dispassionately as possible. You can contact the AG’s office via email to: Stephen Vogel, Assistant Attorney General, at Stephen.vogel@state.ma.us.

For more information on how you can get involved in political action for Social Workers, as well as social and economic justice for all, contact Christine Poff, Director of Policy, NASW-MA, at poff@naswma.org or 616-227-9635 ext. 12.

Statement by the NASW-MA Racial Equity Shared Interest Group

Co-Chairs Polly Hanson and Michelle Walsh

July 25, 2016

We are living in times when social workers are called into the public square on behalf of racial equity, social justice, and anti-oppression education more than ever before. We are witnessing mass escalation of violence abroad and here at home, including the shooting in an Orlando nightclub popular in the Latin LGTBQ community. The international and intersectional Black Lives Matter movement also calls our attention to police brutality in communities of color as well as longstanding inequities of health care, education, criminal justice, and housing among other areas. It is concerning to see that the nonviolent grassroots work of BLM advocates is being distorted in ways that require the Southern Poverty Law Center to take a public stand that Black Lives Matter is not a hate group.

Our news media is filled with these recent and more tragic events, including Alton Sterling and Philando Castile compelling social workers to live out the ethical principles guiding our profession and to engage in broader education and support for nonviolent direct actions. We recognize that there may be differences between us in how we choose to support the values listed in our NASW Code of Ethics. Nonetheless, social justice, the dignity and worth of all people, and the importance of human relationships and community bind us together through the clinical and macro work we do.

With this shared vision in mind, we call your attention to two recent stories in our U.S. news – that of Charles Kinsey, the black human service provider shot while trying to protect his client and that of Montrell Jackson, the black police officer fatally shot in Baton Rouge, LA alongside other officers. Even with his hands clearly raised, Kinsey could not protect himself from being shot. Even though he worked as a fellow police officer, Jackson expressed disappointment with some fellow police officers in the aftermath of the Dallas shooting for their “reckless comments” and that he would not be looking at them the same again. Both of these black men were professionals, specially trained to serve people and our society. Yet even professional status could not keep these men safe from the impact of implicit bias and cultural racism supported by legally sanctioned institutional racism over time.

This racism has functioned as a historical and economic foundation for this country. This history plays an integral role in the contemporary racism that persists. As professional social workers, the ongoing loss of black lives, and the profoundly violent experience of black people in general, is not something we can allow to continue on our watch. Beyond this, we are obligated to investigate the role implicit racism plays in the decisions we make and the ways in which we move through our daily lives. It is imperative that we commit to educate ourselves and others about the profoundly disparate experiences and legacies of race among us and between us, including the intersectional dimensions of race, class, gender, sexuality, immigrant status, religion, and ability.

As social workers, we affirm our commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement and to investigating the historical forces that have shaped this moment in history, including its global dimensions. We affirm our responsibility to be a force for nonviolent change and social justice in our world. We also affirm the trauma of racism and the necessity for racial justice and healing. To this end, we invite all social workers to engage in the NASW-MA Racial Equity Shared Interest Group, as well as other shared interest groups that reflect the broad intersectional concerns of racial equity in our state and beyond. We also encourage all members to become involved in the national Showing Up for Racial Justice movement and its local Boston chapter. The Showing Up for Racial Justice movement is geared toward preparing white allies and is committed to being in accountable relationship with people of color. Finally, we also recommend involvement in the Boston Liberation Health group, which meets monthly, is open to people of all identities, and is active in various local racial justice action.

Please contact your co-chairs, Polly Hanson and Michelle Walsh (emails below) with further questions. We not only look forward to your involvement, we welcome it!

NASW-MA Chapter

April 29, 2016

Update: What Massachusetts Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers Need to Know About the

MassHealth Registration Requirement

All Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSWs) in Massachusetts will be required to register with MassHealth as either billing or non-billing providers. This requirement was put in place to ensure that MassHealth is complying with the Affordable Care Act. NASW-MA Chapter has been advocating for a delay in this requirement. We are pleased to announce that the Board of Registration of Social Workers has informed us that LICSWs will not need to attest to this requirement for their 2016 license renewal; the deadline for which is September 30, 2016. The Board of Registration expects that registering with MassHealth will be a requirement for the next license renewal (in 2018). The Chapter strongly advises LICSWs to move forward tomeet this requirement as soon as they can.

In the message below, we will explain the two ways to complete this requirement, and provide answers to frequently asked questions.

If you are a LICSW in Massachusetts, you may complete the MassHealth registration requirement by registering as either a billing provider or a non-billing provider. A billing provider is a LICSW who is registered with MassHealth and is authorized to bill MassHealth directly for client services. A non-billing provider is a LICSW who does not bill MassHealth directly for any client services but is nonetheless must become registered with MassHealth as a non-billing provider in order to satisfy this new requirement.

To register as a billing provider: Contact MassHealth Customer Service Center at 1-800-841-2900 in order to request an application.

Note:If you arecurrently a MassHealth provider or a QMB-only provider (in order to receive secondary payments from MassHealth for some Medicare enrollees),then you don’t have to do anything—you are already enrolled in MassHealth.

If you still have questions about how to complete this requirement, or if questions come up as you go through the process of completing the form, please consult these instructions and questions and answers, below.

Step by Step Instructions and Q&As:

A Guide to the New Requirement and to Filling-out the

Non-Billing Provider Application and Contract

Filling out the Non-Billing Provider Application

Legal Name:

·How are you legally known, as a person, to the government? Example: the name on your license and/or how the IRS knows you. If your middle name is in one of those places and your middle initial or there’s no middle name in another place, it’s not a problem.

·Make sure you put theidenticalname where it asks for your name elsewhere on the application and on the contract.

·If you have a DBA, don’t include it.

SSN or EIN:

·If you havean EIN for your health care business operation, write in a box (missing on application form) and check it. You are required to send in a photocopy of the letter from the IRS giving you your EIN along with the application.

oIf you have an EIN but cannot locate the letter from the IRS, you can do any of the following:

§Contact the IRS and ask for a duplicate copy of the letter.

§Submit instead a copyof a pre-printed “tax coupon/payment voucher” from the IRS that contains your name, address and tax ID.

·Use your social security number instead of your EIN.

Primary Taxonomy Code:

·LICSWs should leave this part blank; it’s only for medication prescribers.

DEA Number:

·LICSWs should leave this blank; it’s only for medication prescribers.

License from another state?

·If no, leave blank.

Home Street Address and contact information:

·Has to be where you actually reside—no PO Boxes permitted.

oNote: MassHealth will not display this information anywhere; it’s just for their records.

Primary Service Location (PSL):

·If different from your Home Address, put here information about the location where you spend the majority of your time doing clinical social work-related work.

·If not different from your home address, leave blank.

·Note: The address you have listed with the NPI registry (which it’s a good idea to update as needed) is irrelevant to this application.

PSL name and PSL MassHealth provider ID:

·If you work most of the time at a clinic or hospital or agency that has a name, put it here.

·If that facility has a MassHealth provider ID, put it here.

·If it doesn’t have a MassHealth provider ID, leave it blank.

Section 2A: Owners, Managing Employees, and Agents of Applicant:

·This section refers only to your business of providing health care. Read the material below--If your business has co-owners, or paid managers, or agents, if your business is paying a mortgage on property that belongs to it, or if you have a family member involved as owner, managing employee, or agent of the business, indicate yes and provide the information. Otherwise, check “none”.

·Note: If you employ a billing person or company, they count as an agent.

Section 3: Certification Statement:

·Make sure that your Printed Legal Name is the same as the name you put at the beginning of the application.

Non-Billing Provider Contract:

·Legal Namemust be the same as on the application

·For Title,put your academic degree.

·IF YOU HAVE A DBA, DO NOT INCLUDE IT.

Questions and Answers:

·What is the turnaround time for approval of applications?“A few weeks” but if your application has inconsistencies on it, it may take longer for you to get a response.

·Are we going to have to be enrolled as either non-billing or billing MassHealth providers in order to renew our licenses in September, 2016?We have heard from the Board of Registration of Social Workers that enrollment will not need to be completed in time for the September 2016 license renewal. They recommend all LICSWs complete this process as soon as possible, but you will not have to attest to fulfilling this requirement until your next license renewal (2018).

·What if I already submitted an application but haven’t heard back about it?Wait a month for MassHealth to contact you. If you still don’t receive a response, LICSWs may contact Adrian Figueroa at MassHealth/Maximus via email: adrianfigueroa@maximus.comor telephone: 857-472-5744.

·What if I don’t do any clinical work even though I am a LICSW? You will still need to be enrolled in MassHealth either as a billing or non-billing provider as a condition for licensure or relicensure (renewal).

·What if I am a provider for MBHP, Beacon or another Managed Care Organization and work with people on MassHealth? Do I still need to be enrolled separately as a MassHealth provider?Yes, you do. Being a provider for a managed care company that has a contract with MassHealth does not satisfy the requirement.

·If I am treating people on MassHealth as a Beacon or MBHP provider, am I required to also be abillingMassHealth provider? No, you do not. The two are totally separate. You can be a non-billing MassHealth provider if you prefer.

·Do I have to be a Medicare provider in order to be a MassHealth provider? You are not required to be a Medicare provider to bea non-billingMassHealth provider. However, you are required to be a Medicare provider to bea billingMassHealth provider.

·The Affordable Care Act requires that any time a provider bills MassHealth for certain types of services, the provider has to put the NPI number of a referring clinician who is a MassHealth provider on the claim in order for the provider to get paid. I have billing-related questions that pertain to meeting this requirement:No date has been set yet for that requirement to go into effect. A detailed bulletin describing the new billing procedures will be coming out in 4-6 weeks. Meanwhile, the rollout starts simply with “informational messaging” on the EOB’s. For a list of the services and categories of professionals that this requirement applies to, go to the link listed above.

·I work in a hospital and we bill MassHealth under their MassHealth number. I do not have my own individual MassHealth provider number. Do I need to register?Yes, you do. If you cannot individually bill MassHealth under your own name, you must register with them.

·Does my multidisciplinary group practice (which is not a MassHealth provider) need to do the paperwork for the application and contract?For groups who do not accept MassHealth, the individual providers under that group must register with MassHealth to be compliant.

·What does ORP and O&R refer to?ORP stands for “ordering, referring and prescribing”, which is the category of activities that non-billing providers are able to do. O&R stands for “ordering and referring”. These terms are synonymous with “non-billing provider”.

·Whom do I contact if I still have a question about the application process? What if I already submitted an application but I know I didn’t do it according to these instructions?Contact Adrian Figueroa at MassHealth/Maximus via email: adrianfigueroa@maximus.comor telephone: 857-472-5744.

NASW-MA Chapter would like to thank the Massachusetts Psychological Association (MPA) for their permission to excerpt this article, and to Michael A Goldberg, PhD. and James Leffert, Ed.D, who wrote the original article and Q&As for MPA (March, 2016).]]>Clinical AlertsWed, 4 May 2016 16:26:17 GMT